GD Harries open state-of-the-art asphalt plant in South Wales
New 140 tonnes/h StarMix 1520L modular high-level plant officially opened in Llandarcy
GD Harries, a leading company in the quarrying and construction industry in Wales, have officially opened a new, cutting-edge asphalt plant in Llandarcy, near Swansea. The facility, Swansea Bay Asphalt, located just 5 mins off junction 43 of the M4, is set to enhance the region’s infrastructure projects and will supply high-quality asphalt for road construction and maintenance projects across South Wales.
An official opening ceremony was held on 20 September with Carolyn Harris, MP for Neath and Swansea East, cutting the ribbon to declare the site open. She was joined by local business leaders and customers of GD Harries who toured the facility. The open day provided attendees with a first-hand look at the plant's advanced features and the opportunity to discuss its potential impact on upcoming infrastructure projects.
Nick Cleary, general manager of GD Harries, said: ‘We are excited to open this state-of-the-art asphalt plant in Swansea, bringing advanced infrastructure solutions to South Wales. This investment reinforces our commitment to supporting local communities, creating jobs, and improving the quality of roads throughout the region.’
The new plant is a StarMix 1520HL modular high-level plant and was installed by Leicester-based Parker Plant. Designed with sustainability and efficiency in mind, it is capable of producing 140 tonnes/h.
Four 50-tonne mixed-material storage silos and a direct load-out facility ensure orders can be delivered quickly, reducing turnaround times for customers. The setup includes a 2-tonne batch mixer and the whole operation is managed via the control house where the operator can select unlimited mix recipes and view the whole production cycle using an animated plant mimic.
Julian Smith, head of commercial at GD Harries, said: ‘To achieve our sustainability goals and help our customers achieve theirs, the plant is capable of adding 25% RAP, uses Nappicycle fibres, and we will soon be working with MacRebur to use sustainable polymers in our mixes.’
Swansea Bay Asphalt is the fourth asphalt plant operated by GD Harries, with aggregates supplied from the seven quarries the company owns in Wales.
GD Harries’ surfacing division undertakes major road resurfacing projects throughout Wales every year and has been awarded contracts under the South Wales Trunk Road Agent framework (SWTRA) as well as the Civil and Engineering and Surfacing framework for North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent (NMWTRA).
This new facility marks a significant milestone for GD Harries, who continue to expand their operations to meet the growing infrastructure needs in South and West Wales. They say the plant’s strategic location will enable faster, more efficient service to local authorities and contractors, ensuring critical road projects are delivered on time and to the highest standards.
